Figure toy with magnetically retained parts



April 2, 1968 J. ALONSO 3,375,604

FIGURE TOY WITH MAGNETICALLY RETAINED PARTS 7 Filed May 5, 1965 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR filo/750 1 7 ATIDRNE 5.

Jose

.1. ALONSO 3,375,604

FIGURE TOY WITH MAGNETICALLY RETAINED PARTS April 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1965 Jose A la/750 AT/QRN .5

3,375,604 FIGURE TOY WITH MAGNETICALLY RETAINED PARTS Jose Alonso, 2324 Cambridge Road, Fairlawn, NJ. 07410 Filed May 5, 1965, Ser. No. 453,273 1 Claim. (Cl. 4622) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A figure toy having a grotesque representation of a human body of magnetic material with a removable grotesque head attached to the body by magnetic means, and removable arms and legs attached to the body by magnetic means. Means is provided for swingably mounting the head.

This invention relates generally to toy constructions and more particularly to a toy wherein the movable elements are readily assembled and held in operative position by magnetic attraction.

In one form of the invention, an animal toy is provided with a movable and detachable head and legs, the head and legs being held on the body by magnetic attraction.

In another form of the invention, a toy representing a human being has a grotesque spherical body with detachable and movable limbs and head held on the body by magnetic attraction.

In still another form, a steel cup and ball are held in nested relation by magnetic attraction.

In yet another form, a toy wagon has its on the shafts by magnetic attraction.

A further form of the invention is embodied in an automotive platform mounting a figure toy, the platform being mounted on wheels having eccentric mounts, including wheels held on the shafts by magnetic attraction.

A still further form of the invention is embodied in an animal toy having an elongated resilient and stretchable sectional body, the sections of the body being held together by magnetic attraction.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a toy device having movable parts, such parts being held in operative position by magnetic attraction.

Another object is to provide a toy device that is instructive and amusing, simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be 'had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a toy animal embodying one form of the invention, parts being shown detached and parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the parts shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational 'view of a toy representing a human being embodying another form of the invention, parts being shown detached and parts being shown broken awa Fl G. 5 is a side elevational view of a toy embodying a third modified form of the invention, parts being shown in section and parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a toy wagon embodying a fourth modified form of the invention, parts being shown detached.

Wheels held United States Patent 0 3,375,604 Patented Apr. 2., 1968 FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6, with the parts shown in upright detached position.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the parts in juxtaposed operative position.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a toy vehicle embodying a fifth modified form of the invention, a toy figure being shown on the vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a toy animal embodying a sixth modified form of the invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a toy animal in the form of a dog 10 is shown embodying one form of the invention. The toy animal is formed of soft rubber composition and comprises an elongated hollow cylindrical body 12, a head 14, hollow front legs 16, 16 and rear legs 17 and 18, and a tail 19. The body has a neck 20 on which the head 14 is removably and swivelly mounted.

The body 12 is formed with four openings 36 at the ends thereof for mounting the front legs 16 which are separately formed from the body. A permanent magnet 38 is seated in the form of a circular disc or washer in one of the rear openings 36. The top end of the rear leg 18 is closed by a flat surface 39 and fastened to said surface 39 there is a flat steel disc 40 having a central protruding button 42 suitably secured thereto. The rear leg 18 is adapted to be mounted on and attached to the body of the animal by placing the steel disc 40' on the magnetic disc or washer 38, the button extending through the hole 44 in the magnet, the magnet holding the leg thereon by magnetic attraction. The other legs 16, 16 and 17 are open at the top ends thereof and formed with annular flanges 46 forming extensions thereof. In attaching these legs to the body 12, the annular flanges 46 are forced through the openings 36 in the body, the rubber material permitting this operation, and the flanges 46 on the legs interlocked with the inner surface of the body around the holes to hold the legs in place.

The swivel mounting of the head 14 on the neck 20 of the body 12 consists of a steel disc 50 mounted in the opening 52 in the neck and closing said opening. The disc 50 has a central round button 54 and curved lugs 56 spaced along the periphery thereof for interlocking with the edge of the neck opening to hold the disc in place.

The head 14 has an opening 58 in its neck opening and heated in said opening and closing the same there is a permanent magnet in the form of a circular disc or washer 60 formed with a curved peripheral flange 62 for interlocking with the edge of the opening 58 to hold the magnet in place. The disc or washer 60 has a central opening 64 formed therein. The head 14 is seated on the steel disc of the neck portion of the body, the button of the steel disc extending through the central hole 64 in the magnet. The head is held in place by the magnetic attraction of the magnet on the steel disc.

In use, the frictional nature of the material of the parts is such that the head and limbs may be turned to any desired position or angle and the parts remain in adjusted position.

Another toy embodying feature of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. In this case, the figure represents a grotesque looking human being and comprises a solid spherical body 12 of magnetic material constituting a permanent magnet. A clowns head is swingably mounted on the spherical body at one side thereof, the right hand side as viewed in FIG. 4. The mounting comprises a solid metal block 72 having a curved end conforming to the curvature of the body and attracted to the body by the magnetic attraction thereof. A bail 74 is swingably connected to the block and to the head 70 whereby the head may be swung to and fro.

On the opposite side of the spherical body 12' there is the representation of a human hand 76 having a wrist 78 formed of metal with a steel disc 79 attracted to the body 12' and held thereon.

On the top and bottom of the spherical body, there are figures representing shoes 80, 80 worn by human beings with metal legs including a steel disc 82 held onto the body by the attraction of said body.

Another figure of a human hand 84 is shown between the head and the shoe on the top, which hand has a metal wrist with a steel disc 86 adapted to be attracted by the magnetic attraction of the spherical body and held in place thereon. The hand 84 is shown detached from the body. The essence of the invention, to wit, the releasable supporting of the head and limbs on the body by means of magnetic attraction is illustrated in this FIG- URE 4 of the drawing.

Another toy embodying features of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. Herein is shown a steel arcuate shaped cup 90 with an elongated wooden handle 92. A ball or spherical body 94 is tied to the handle near the top thereof by means of an elongated spring 96. The ball or spherical body is composed of magnetic material and constitutes a permanent magnet. The magnet 94 is adapted to seat in the cup 90 and when seated is held therein by the magnetic attraction thereof on the steel cup. By swinging the cup around a circle with sufficient force, the ball will be displaced from its seat therein and fly around until directed into the cup again.

'In FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive, another top embodying another modified form of the invention is shown in the form of a small shallow wagon having a box-like body 102 mounted on wheel assemblies 104 on the outer ends of the shafts or axles 106. The shafts or axles 106 extend under the body of the wagon and from side to side thereof adjacent the ends of the body. The ends of the shafts are formed with enlarged cylindrical portions 108. Each wheel assembly 104 consists of a metal drum 110 sleeved over the shaft or axle 106 inwardly of the enlarged portion 108 thereof. A permanent magnet in the form of a disc 112 with a central opening and hub portion 114 is sleeved over the enlarged portion 108 of the axle or shaft inside the drum. A solid rubber Wheel 116 with a central opening 118 therein is slidably mounted on the outer end of the enlarged portion 108 of the axle or shaft. The wheel is recessed on its inner surface as indicated at 120 and supported in this recess is a steel disc 122. When the wheel is in operative position on the axle 0r shaft, the steel disc 122 contacts the magnet 112 and is attracted thereby holding the wheel on the axle or shaft.

In FIG. 9, another toy in the form of a vehicle 126 embodying another form of the invention is illustrated. The vehicle includes a fiat body or platform 12-7 mounted on axles 128, only one axle being shown, the axles being supported on wheel assemblies 130. .A grotesque figure 132 of a human being is shown riding on the platform 126. The wheel assemblies are eccentrically mounted on the ends of the axles. Each assembly comprises a solid rubber wheel 134 having a shallow recess 136 on its inner surface in which is seated a steel circular disc 138. On the outer end of each axle 128, there is a circular disc 140 of magnetic material constituting a permanent magnet. Each disc 140 has an integral hub portion 142 with a central bore fittingly receiving the adjacent end of the axle. The magnetic discs 140 contact the steel discs 138 on the wheels at points offset from the centers of the discs 138 so that each wheel is eccentrically mounted on the end of the axle, as shown in FIG. 9. When the wheels are turned, during movement of the vehicle, an up and down eccentric motion is imparted to the vehicle thereby moving the figure 132 up and down.

Another toy embodying the essence of the invention in the form of a grotesque representation of an alligator 144 is shown in FIG. 10. The alligator 144 has an elon- 4 i gated wire cylindrical body 146, a head 148 and a tail 150. A representation of a leg 152 with the representation of a shoe 154 for humans is shown at the juncture of the head with the body and at the juncture of the tail with the body. The body is sectional, each section 156 consisting of an elongated compression spring 158 having a steel circular disc 160 atone end thereof and a circular disc of magnetic material constituting a magnet 162 at the other end. The sections are arranged so that the steel disc 160 of one section contacts the magnet 162 of the adjacent section so that the steel discs are attracted to the magnets and the body sections held together in elongation. A magnet 162 is attached to the inner end of the head 148 for engagement with the adjacent steel disc 160 of the body, and a steel disc 160 is attached to the inner end of the tail 150 for engagement with the adjacent magnet 162 of the body.

In use, the alligator may be manually pushed along,

simulating walking and the body will move up and down.

In FIGS. 11, 11a and 11b, a modified form of wheel mounting for a vehicle such as the wagon shown in FIG. 6 is shown. This wheel mounting comprises a disc of magnetic material constituting a permanent magnet 60 having a central hole 64 aligned with a hole 166 inthe side of the wagon adjacent each end thereof. A stub shaft 168 with a tapered head 170 is inserted through the wheel and through the steel disc 122. of the wheel, and through the aligned holes 64' and 166 in the magnet and body of the wagon, respectively, the steel disc 122' being held to the magnet by magnetic attraction.

It is believed that the construction and method of use as well as the advantages of my improved magnetically supported toys will be apparent from the foregoing detailed descriptions thereof. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the constructions shown without departing from the scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A figure toy having a spherical body of material constituting a permanent magnet, a head detachably mounted on the surface of said body at one side thereof, a representation of a hand directly and detachably mounted on the surface of the body opposite the head, representations of legs with :shoes thereon detachably mounted on the surface of the body in opposed relation intermediate the head and hand, and another representation of a hand directly and detachably mountedon the surface of the body intermediate the head and one of the representations of the legs, the mounting of the representation of the head constituted by a steel block having a curved surface conformable to the shape of the body, a bail swingably mounted on the block and the head fixed on said bail, the mounting of the representations of the hands constituted by steel=discs secured to the wrist portions attracted to the body of the toy, the mounting of the representations of the legs constituted by steeldiscs secured to the legs attracted to the body of the toy.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,135 11/ 1927 Shasteen r 46-22 1,841,855 1/1932 Steitf 46173 3,068,615 12/1962 Nassour 46-22 3,246,422 4/ 1966 Teagarden 4622 3,254,440 6/1966 Duggar 462S FOREIGN. PATENTS 530,718 7/1931 Germany.

RICHARD C.jPINKHAM,1Primary Examiner. F. BARRY SHAY, ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiners.

T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner. 

